Is it bad to leave a mag loaded for extended periods of time? Obviously I want to leave the gun loaded, or else it doesn't help me in a situation where I need it. However I might not need it for months, or a year or whatever. I would at least go shoot in every few months but then it would go back to sitting bedside loaded. Does the amount of ammo in the mag affect this too? I find the springs pretty strong at the moment (it's a pretty new gun), so I don't mind them getting broken in a little. I am just worried about if this could ever lead to weak springs which might cause failure to feed?
Leaving mag loaded question
- Thread starter Dendore
- Start date
- Status
REAPER4206969
Member
No.
Packman
Member
Well, isn't that helpful...
Don't worry about it. Someone who understands it better than I do will be along shortly to give you science, but basically, what wears out springs is cycling them, not static loading, whether the load is compressed or not. So, leaving it loaded for extended periods shouldn't hurt your magazine.
Don't worry about it. Someone who understands it better than I do will be along shortly to give you science, but basically, what wears out springs is cycling them, not static loading, whether the load is compressed or not. So, leaving it loaded for extended periods shouldn't hurt your magazine.
bartman06
Member
The springs made today don't usually have the problem of losing their strength. I say usually because one may never know a spring a go limp. But the springs made today are much stronger then their predecessors. So fill em up. Also replacement spring run between 15 to 30 bucks if it ever does. The amount in the spring does not change anything either. Good luck and take care.
TeamPrecisionIT
Member
No, they will not wear just from being loaded. If that doesn't sound right to you or you still aren't comfortable with the idea then go ahead and set yourself up with replacement magazine springs and change them out once a year or whenever you would like. Here's a good site for them: http://www.gunsprings.com/
Damian
Damian
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
How so?
1911 mags left loaded from WWI will still work as good today as they did then. I have some that came from estate sales still loaded with 1917-18 dated ammo in them.
I have Colt Woodsman magazines from 1936 that were loaded with old copper case .22 ammo from pre-WWII that still work perfectly.
There is nothing to indicate any improvement in mag springs have been made since the auto pistol was invented.
The only "improvement" I can think of is modern stainless steel spring stock that won't rust as fast if neglected.
On the otherhand, some decline has occured during the quest for higher and hiigher capacity magazines. Some of the designers let ultimate spring life take second place to higher compression & higher capacity. Glock comes to mind in that regard. Thier springs will last much longer if down-loaded a round or two.
rc
rcmodel.... how so?
Mostly today's springs would have tighter control on the metalurigal processes that manufacture the steel and spring from that steel.
In many cases the use of different steels for extreme applications spring steels can be much better.
But YES in the case of a spring in a magazine.. 1900s tech is sufficient, but might have a slightly higher failure rate. 1-2 out of a 100 more failures than today.
Mostly today's springs would have tighter control on the metalurigal processes that manufacture the steel and spring from that steel.
In many cases the use of different steels for extreme applications spring steels can be much better.
But YES in the case of a spring in a magazine.. 1900s tech is sufficient, but might have a slightly higher failure rate. 1-2 out of a 100 more failures than today.
bigfatdave
Member
Can we PLEASE get this as a sticky?
nalioth
Member
Why? tired of seeing it week in and week out?bigfatdave said:
For it to be effective, it'd have to be a global announcement that nobody could ignore, because - unfortunately - nobody reads the stickies before they come and ask the same ol' thing covered by them . . .
Mad Magyar
Member
Not quite, nothing said here deserves that distinction, including my own.
The fact of the matter is that springs do lose compression; whether mattress springs, car springs: whole lots of springs, big & small.There have been objective testing over the decades that validate this.
Changing out mag springs is big, profitable business. Check out the data and not internet chit-chat. I'm an ol'timer now, but I had many pistoleros including the name below that I've respected over the years tell me; "load one-less if for an extended period of time."
It isn't as effective as a sticky. People are looking for more than facts, they want to be dissuaded from their currently held belief
Otherwise this thread would have ended at post #2...which was a complete and accurate answer.
Zerodefect
member
Assuming high quality mags and springs. Wilson/Tripp/Glock/Wolff for example..........
NO.
Confederate
Member
Some springs can fail if they're defective. Like knife blades, the heat treatment can be off and the magazine can fail. I have a friend whose 1911 failed after the first round, then jammed every other round until it was empty. The gun had been loaded for years and his next (empty) magazine worked fine.
In the 1980s two Kentucky cops with S&W 681s complained that their point of aims were inconsistent. Turned out that the heat treat on their barrels was completely off. Their rifling also was wearing down to nothing. (At least their guns worked reliably.)
It boils down to testing your equipment, but you can generally rely on good name brand equipment. I wouldn't bet my life on compressed Jennings, Ravens or, especially, Davis Industry mags. I've also heard some negative reports on Beretta military mags.
Mec-gar mads are fine, though.
In the 1980s two Kentucky cops with S&W 681s complained that their point of aims were inconsistent. Turned out that the heat treat on their barrels was completely off. Their rifling also was wearing down to nothing. (At least their guns worked reliably.)
It boils down to testing your equipment, but you can generally rely on good name brand equipment. I wouldn't bet my life on compressed Jennings, Ravens or, especially, Davis Industry mags. I've also heard some negative reports on Beretta military mags.
Mec-gar mads are fine, though.
Yep if a cheap lipped 30 rounder fully loaded maybe you might get some lip spread that's the only thing I have heard of... I used to keep half mags or less from fear of hurting the spring or mag when stored. I have some I top off and some that are kinda flimsy that I leave 2 or 4 out of. The guys here at THR set me straight not to long ago and I thank them.....
W.E.G.
Member
Springs fail for three reasons.
1. Defective material
2. Action beyond design limits.
3. Repeated compression cycles.
A first-quality factory magazine spring has great room for degradation before there will be any noticeable loss of function during firing.
With modern materials, and quality guns, you could load the magazine today, and still fully trust it 20 years from now.
1. Defective material
2. Action beyond design limits.
3. Repeated compression cycles.
A first-quality factory magazine spring has great room for degradation before there will be any noticeable loss of function during firing.
With modern materials, and quality guns, you could load the magazine today, and still fully trust it 20 years from now.
Springs wear out by constant compressing/decompressing, not by sitting compressed over a period of time. Load your mags up and forget about it!
I don't know. I've got a friend who's sister used to date a guy whose cousin was married to a woman whose father had a mag full of 45's left from WWI that jammed once.
They all now change mag springs and followers at least every week.
Say it makes them feel better.
I don't know. I've got a friend who's sister used to date a guy whose cousin was married to a woman whose father had a mag full of 45's left from WWI that jammed once.
They all now change mag springs and followers at least every week.
Say it makes them feel better.
Springs getting weaker over time when kept in constant compression is a real phenomenon known as "creep." That said, the rate at which this happens is highly dependent on the material the spring is made of, and with quality spring steel, it's negligible to the point where decades or even centuries won't make a difference in reliability, so don't worry about it (unless your magazines are of crappy quality, that is, in which case they should not be used at all).
Yeah, some of you are thinking that I just unnecessarily complicated the issue, but if you're like me, then this should address any niggling doubts or questions you may have about the properties of materials.
Yeah, some of you are thinking that I just unnecessarily complicated the issue, but if you're like me, then this should address any niggling doubts or questions you may have about the properties of materials.
Otto
Member
- Joined
- May 14, 2007
- Messages
- 2,357
"Magazines which are kept fully loaded for long periods of time, such as in law enforcement and personal/home defense applications, will generally be subject to more fatigue than the weekend shooter's magazine springs in which the magazines are loaded up only when shooting."
*From Wolffs FAQ http://www.gunsprings.com/faq#Faq5
1SOW
Member
http://www.gunsprings.com/ AKA Wolff Springs
They have info relative to their springs siting "cycling-expanding & contracting" as the primary cause of springs weakening.
IMHO, The only negible improvement in spring making, is the more precise digital load/strength measuring capability.
They have info relative to their springs siting "cycling-expanding & contracting" as the primary cause of springs weakening.
IMHO, The only negible improvement in spring making, is the more precise digital load/strength measuring capability.
Even if you have a weak mag spring from wear and tear the magazine will still function fine. The only problem a mag with a weak spring will cause is failure to lock the slide after the last cartridge has been fired. And if your slide fails to lock back then that's when you know it's time to replace springs.
perch
Member
Each magazine and spring is different. A compressed spring will, over time, lose power; how much and whether it will affect gun function in any meaningful way is open to debate.
I'd suggest getting an extra magazine or two and switching the duty mag every 2-3 months (or however often) to let the other(s) rest if this is something that concerns you. It can't hurt.
I'd suggest getting an extra magazine or two and switching the duty mag every 2-3 months (or however often) to let the other(s) rest if this is something that concerns you. It can't hurt.
LiveLife
Member
Some manufacturers like Glock uses extra tension/power magazine springs to compensate for prolonged fully loaded applications. With any new factory magazine, I load them with as many rounds as I can and let them sit. After several weeks, I check to see if I can load them to max. Once I can load them to max, I test them at the range for proper function and consider them "broken in" after zero failure after several hundred+ rounds. If they fail, I inspect for the cause and contact the manufacturer for replacement if I can't resolve the cause. BTW, I have replacement mag followers and Wolff extra power springs on standby for my magazines.
bigfatdave
Member
I know that a sticky won't prevent the questions, but it could be used as a reference if it was set up with cites and a well-laid-out format.
These could be closed out by a Mod, with a link to the comprehensive summary
These could be closed out by a Mod, with a link to the comprehensive summary
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
